Anelka sparks Chelsea to life

NICOLAS ANELKA provided the goal threat, the elegant touches and the deftness in possession for Chelsea yesterday that will surely also be required for this week’s win-or-bust Champions League semi-final showdown with Barcelona.

Chelsea’s Florent Malouda celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal

The French striker scored inside a minute to inspire victory against neighbours Fulham – and made a compelling case to start against Barcelona rather than be on the bench, as he was in the first leg.

Anelka was at the heart of all Chelsea’s best work in this game, displaying wonderful close control on the ball and always sparking attacks with strong runs or clever passes.

Chelsea have to score against Barcelona to reach the Champions League final. On this evidence they have to play Anelka.

After all the controversy about the rights and wrongs of the sterile 0-0 draw in that semi-final first leg in Spain last week, it took a mere 51 seconds to find the net here.

It was a move of stunning simplicity and ease. Anelka skipped towards the Fulham penalty area, played a one-two with Didier Drogba, and found himself clear on the goalkeeper, whom he beat with a typically cool and classy finish.

Where other strikers panic in those situations, Anelka just strokes the ball calmly into the net.

It was a stark contrast with events in the Nou Camp a few days earlier. And so was what followed.

Chelsea’s defence was as lacklustre as Fulham’s and they conceded an equally cheap goal with less than four minutes played.

It was lazy sunshine football from both teams, the mood one of springtime frivolity rather than blazing concentration.

There was no surprise when Chelsea scored another goal before 10 minutes were on the clock.

This time Drogba crossed low and untroubled form the right flank and Florent Malouda shot home low and untroubled from 12 yards out.

The goals didn’t animate the managers; this wasn’t their kind of football.

The incessant mistakes did – and Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink moved out to the touchline to indicate his displeasure, sending his defensive substitutes to warm up as a warning.

Fulham ought to have equalised a second time by the 14th minute, but Nevland volleyed his shot over the bar when unmarked in the Chelsea area.

Nobody was immune, not even Chelsea skipper John Terry. He was robbed easily by substitute Diomansy Kamara, on for the injured Nevland, and a swift pass allowed Zoltan Gera to shoot just over the bar.

Frank Lampard went close just before half-time, but saw his shot deflected just wide of the post.

After the break Chelsea broke on the counter and Anelka fed Drogba with a well-angled pass that gave the striker the room to score a third goal as Fulham’s defence floundered.

Anelka almost created another goal for Drogba in the 69th minute, cleverly skipping past a defender before sending in a skimming cross that his strike partner clipped into the side netting.

The purpose of Chelsea in attack reflected the strength of the team picked by manager Hiddink, who had to set a desire to rest players for the Barcelona showdown against the need for victory to maintain their six-point lead over Arsenal.

Third place is more precious this season because it now gives automatic entry to the Champions League group stages, while fourth sends you into the qualifying rounds. And Chelsea will finish third.